#481 – Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA

Norman Ohler is a historian and author of “Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich,” a book that investigates the role of psychoactive drugs, particularly stimulants such as methamphetamine, in the military history of World War II. It is a book that two legendary historians Ian Kershaw and Antony Beevor give very high praise for its depth of research. Norman also wrote “Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age”, and he is working on a new book “Stoned Sapiens” looking at the history of human civilization through the lens of drugs.

Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep481-sc

See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

Transcript:

lexfridman.com/norman-ohler-transcript

CONTACT LEX:

Feedback – give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey

AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama

Hiring – join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring

Other – other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact

EPISODE LINKS:

Stoned Sapiens Substack: substack.com/@stonedsapiens

Norman’s X: x.com/normanohler

Norman’s Instagram: instagram.com/normanohler

Norman’s YouTube: youtube.com/@Norman-Ohler

Norman’s Website: normanohler.de

Norman’s books: amzn.to/46uNS18

Blitzed: amzn.to/4mmY2XC

The Bohemians: amzn.to/3KubPhK

Tripped: amzn.to/4nEy7eX

SPONSORS:

To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:

UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics.

Go to upliftdesk.com/lex (lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep481-sc)

Fin: AI agent for customer service.

Go to fin.ai/lex (lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep481-sc)

Shopify: Sell stuff online.

Go to shopify.com/lex (lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep481-sc)

LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.

Go to drinkLMNT.com/lex (lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep481-sc)

Hampton: Community for high-growth founders and CEOs.

Go to joinhampton.com/lex (lexfridman.com/s/hampton-ep481-sc)

OUTLINE:

(00:00) – Introduction

(01:09) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections

(09:00) – Drugs in post-WWI Germany

(19:18) – Nazi rise to power

(23:45) – Hitler’s drug use

(29:37) – Response to historian criticism

(46:16) – Pervitin

(1:00:15) – Blitzkrieg and meth

(1:18:52) – Erwin Rommel (Crystal Fox)

(1:23:02) – Dunkirk

(1:31:06) – Hitler’s drug addiction

(1:47:03) – Methamphetamine

(1:48:57) – Invasion of Soviet Union

(2:07:54) – Cocaine

(2:16:49) – Hitler’s last days

(2:36:48) – German resistance against Nazis

(2:58:59) – Totalitarianism

(3:04:09) – Stoned Sapiens – Drugs in human history

(3:19:20) – Religion

(3:30:09) – LSD, CIA, and MKUltra

(3:55:39) – Writing on drugs

(4:08:40) – Berlin night clubs

(4:19:14) – Greatest book ever written